Remote Work
Digital Nomad in Egypt
Egypt is an unconventional remote-work base — low cost of living, strong cafe culture in Cairo and Dahab, and enough visa flexibility for short to medium stays. Here is what you need to know before setting up here.
Best Cities for Nomads
City-specific guides to the best cafes and work spots.
Monthly Cost of Living
Estimates for a single nomad including accommodation, food, and transport. Excludes flights and visa fees.
| City | Monthly Budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | $700–1,400 | Most options; Ma'adi and Zamalek are the preferred expat/nomad areas; coworking scene is growing |
| Dahab | $500–900 | Relaxed Red Sea base; strong cafe scene; popular with long-stay nomads for the diving and slow pace |
| El Gouna | $800–1,600 | Upscale Red Sea resort town; reliable fibre, good restaurants, very car-dependent |
| Alexandria | $600–1,100 | Mediterranean character; cheaper than Cairo; smaller expat community; summer is very crowded |
| Hurghada | $600–1,200 | Larger resort town; cheaper than El Gouna; improving infrastructure; less compact than Dahab |
Costs in USD. EGP exchange rate fluctuates — check before travel. Budget tier assumes shared or modest private accommodation.
Visas & Practicalities
The essentials for setting up as a remote worker in Egypt.
Tourist e-Visa (30 days, extendable)
- › Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg — $25 USD fee
- › Processing: 3–5 business days online
- › Valid for 30 days from entry; extendable once in-country for a further 30 days (total 60 days)
- › No dedicated digital nomad visa exists for Egypt
- › Staying beyond 60 days requires exiting and re-entering the country
SIM Cards
- › Vodafone Egypt: best coverage in cities and major tourist sites
- › Orange Egypt: good coverage in Sinai
- › Etisalat (e&): competitive data pricing
- › Buy at Cairo Airport arrivals hall — bring your passport
- › Tourist SIMs: EGP 50–150 (~$1.50–5 USD) for 30 days with 5–20 GB data
- › eSIM option: Airalo works in Egypt
Internet & Coworking
- › Cafe WiFi: 20–100 Mbps in well-connected areas of Cairo, Dahab, El Gouna
- › Coworking is less developed than SE Asia — Cairo has some options (Cairocoworking, spaces near Flat6Labs)
- › Dahab cafes function well as informal coworking spaces
- › Day passes where available: approximately $5–15 USD
- › Power cuts can occur — a laptop with a full battery is practical insurance
Visa Extension & Border Runs
- › First extension: apply at the Mugamma building in Cairo (Tahrir Square) or a local passport office
- › Extension adds 30 days — max total stay of 60 days on a tourist visa
- › Beyond 60 days: exit Egypt and re-enter on a fresh visa
- › Common reset routes: Taba/Eilat border to Israel, or Nuweiba ferry to Aqaba, Jordan
- › Note: reliability of these border reset routes in practice can vary — verify current conditions before planning around them
Planning where to base yourself?
Browse our city guides for a closer look at each destination, or explore accommodation options across Egypt.
Explore more